Motor-vehicle.



No. 690,369. Patented' -nec. 3|, 19m.

- w. .1. & G. LANE.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1901.; 1

(No Model.)

32 33 10 WiTNESSES:

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM JAMES LANE AND GEORGE LANE, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 690,369, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed March 6, 1901.

To all whom it may concern: 5

Be it known that we, WILLIAM JAMES LANE and GEORGE LANE, citizens of the United. States, residing at Poughkeepsie, county of Dutchess, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in M0 tor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to motor-vehicles of the type adapted to be operated by steam.

Our invention consists in a construction whereby the feed-water for the boiler is heated by the exhaust-steam from the engine and such portion of such exhaust-steam as is not condensed by the feed-water wholly or partially absorbed by the products of combustion and heated air passing the boiler and before being discharged into the atmosphere.

Our invention also relates to various details of construction, which willbe pointed out in the specification and claims.

The objectof' our invention is to increase the economy of operation of motor-vehicles and also to do away with, as far as possible, the objectionable clouds of steam which commonly follow steam-operated motor-vehicles.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate our invention, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through the body of a motor-vehicle, as also through the burner and the water-tank, and further shows in elevation a steam-engine and the communicating pipe system between the engine, boiler, and tank. Fig. 2 is a bottom view. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the vehicle-body looking from the front, also showing the boiler, pipe system, water-gage, &c., in elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the vehicle-body and water-tank looking from the rear, also showing various pipes in elevation.

In the drawings, 10 indicates the body of a motor-vehicle. The body shown is that of a two-seated vehicle, commonly known as a surrey. We, however, may use any form of vehicle-body to which ourapparatus may be adapted.

drocarbon-burner may be used. The boiler Serialll'o. 50,135. iNo model.)

11 is located within a metallic casing 13, suitably lagged with asbestos or other heat-nonconducting material. The relation of the boiler 11 to the casing is such that there are formed over the top of the boiler a horizontal flue 14 and along the sides of the boiler vertical flues 15. The shape of the casing which incloses the boiler isnot material, provided a horizontal flue is provided over the boiler and a vertical flue or flues along the sidesof the boiler.

16 indicates the water-tank, located under the rear seat of the vehicle. Entrance is obtained to the water-ta'nkfor filling through the removable cover 17.

Situated under the vehicle and between the boiler and the water-tank is a steam-motor device 18. This steam-motor device we profer to be a two-cylinder engine, although any other form of steam-motordevice maybe employed.

Connecting the cylinders of the engine to the boiler is a live-steam pipe 19, and in this pipe is a throttle-valve 20, operated through the throttle-lever 21.

Connecting the exhaust of the engine with the interior of the Water-tank is a pipe 22. This pi pe has its discharge-opening in the top of the Water-tank. Whensteam is discharged through the pipe 22,.the water is heated by the steam passing through the pipe and that which is discharged over the water. When the water iscold, the steam is condensed. As the water becomes heated the'steam is condensed in smaller quantities.

Connecting the top of .the water-tank with the horizontal flue over the boiler is a pipe 23. This pipe is connected in the space occupied by the flue 14 with a transverse pipe 2-1 and the two branch pipes 25, located in the flue 1t and over the vertical fines 15. The pipes 25 are slotted at 26 underneath, so that steam emitted into these pipes will be discharged in a downward stream at the top of the vertical flues 15.

Instead of placing the slotted pipes 25 at the top of the flues 15 they may be placed farther down the tines. We prefer, however, that these pipes should be placed in the top of the tines, as better results are obtained by so doing.

The operation of our improved device so through the pipe 32 into the boiler.

far as described is as follows: The products of combustion and air drawn through the burner 12 pass through the vertical tubes of the boiler 11 and are discharged in a highlyheated condition into the horizontal flue 14.

As this flue is provided with no outlet at the top, the gases are turned downward and into the vertical lines 15. The passage of the body of gases downward is aided by the injector acdinary temperatures and but very slightly visible when the temperature of the atmosphere' is very low or very highly charged with moisture.

Referring again to the drawings, 27 indicates a strainer in the bottom of the watertank; 28, a steam-pump adapted to be constantly operated by the steam-motor device.

when it is in motion; 29, a pipe between strainer and inlet of pump; 30 31, inlet and outlet valves from pump; 32, a pipe leading from outlet of pu mp to boiler; 33,acheck-valve atinlet of pipe 32 to boiler. This valve opens inwardly. The pipe 32, as shown in Fig. 3, is carried upward and connected with a valve 34 and then downward, as a pipe 35, back to the water-tank at 36. The operation of this portion of the device will be readily under-- stood. \Vhen the steam-motor device is in operation, the pump will be actuatedand the water drawn from the tank and discharged If the operator of the vehicle finds that sufticient water has been introduced into the boiler, he

opens the valve 84:, and as the return-path of 5' pipe 35 to the water-tank ofiiers less resistance than the pressure of the boiler the water will flow around the boiler back to the watertank.

37 indicates a water-gage on the outside of the vehicle and in a convenient position for observation; 38, try-cocks from the boiler, located between the body of the vehicle and the casing which incloses the boiler.

Having thus described our invention, we claim 1. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a boiler, a casing surrounding the boiler, a water-tank, a steam-motor device, an exhaustpipe' leading from the motor device and discharging directly i'nto the water-tank, and an exhaust-pipe leading from the water-tank to the cavity of the casing surrounding the boiler.

2. In a motor-vehicle,'the combination of a boiler, a casing surrounding the boiler, a water-tank, a steam-motor device, an exhaustpipe leading from motor device to water-tank, an exhaust-pipe from water-tank tocavity of easing surrounding the boiler, said pipe hav- 'ing several branches slotted along their lower surface.

3. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a boiler, a casing surrounding the boiler, a steam-motor device, a'feed-pipe for-the motor device communicating with the boiler and carried downward and backward within the cavity of the casing, a water-tank, "and a pipe connected to the exhaust of the motor device and carried under the body of the vehicle and discharging directly into the Water-tank.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures'in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JAMES LANE. GEORGE LANE.- Witnesses:

J. E. PEARSON, G. E. STEOHER. 

